OUR TEAM
Bea Fry
Program Steward
Bea hails from St. Paul, Minnesota and is a recent transplant to Chicago. They hold a B.A. in International Relations and a B.S. in Food Studies from Syracuse University. Their background includes research on violations of the Human Right to Adequate Food and Nutrition for transgender people of color. Bea is passionate about creating and maintaining a food system which is equitable for the LGBTQIA+ community and racial minorities, promoting the integration of international human rights rhetoric into the foundation of local food systems.
Email: Bea@auachicago.org
Jazmin Martinez
Co-Operations Steward
Jazmin is a farmer from La Villita/Little Village neighborhood in Chicago and uses They/them pronouns. They are an owner-worker of Catatumbo Cooperative Farm currently located in South Chicago. They have previous experience working in social services providing crisis and trauma-informed support and connecting individuals and families to resources. Additionally, their background involves organizing within the immigrant rights movement. Through their work, they saw a need to create economic opportunities for historically excluded communities and was drawn to urban farming, particularly within a worker-cooperative model. Their work is grounded in reverence for the land and hands that feed and nourish us. They are committed to connecting urban agriculture with broader social justice movements to envision and create other possible worlds.
Email: Jazmin@auachicago.org
Viviana Okakpu
Co-Operations Steward
Viviana is a farmer rooted in Chicago’s south side. They are passionate about food and medicine sovereignty, reduction of soil and water toxicity, and generative economics. They hold a B.A. in Environmental Studies and History from Oberlin College and has furthered her agricultural education by farming throughout North and Central America. They co-founded the community garden and 501(c)3 Cooperation Operation and The Chicago Mushroom Company, LLC. They ground their work in a deep love for Chicagos land, water, and people.
Email: viviana@auachicago.org
Liana Fu
Digital Communications and Outreach Steward
Liana Fu is a writer and organizer from Chicago. She studied at the University of Chicago while organizing for student of color power. They are passionate about creating digital spaces that facilitate learning, growth, and connection while centering Black and Indigenous growers. In their free time, they enjoy running their food Instagram (@mushroomhatersonly) and making zines.
Email: liana@auachicago.org
Yahdi Caprice
Soil Testing Steward
Yahdi Caprice is the founder and land steward at Free Movement Farm (Free Mvmt), a farm regenerating waste through compost education and soil production in Chicago. Yah’s farming practices are dedicated to offering opportunities for accessible, mutually nourishing relationships with the Land. He apprenticed with Chi City Foods in 2022 launching their new site in Morgan Park and graduated from the Stateline Farm Beginnings program with Angelic Organics Learning Center in 2021. Yahdi found his roots in farming on the southside of Chicago at Catatumbo Cooperative Farm. When Yah is not farming you can find him expanding his move practice, playing basketball with Swish, and spending quality time with the Grands.
Email: soilhealth@auachicago.org
Tucker Kelly
Water Access Steward
Tucker (they/them) began farming in 2010 on an organic farm in Ohio. Their area of focus for the last six years has been providing vocational training for ex-offenders and young adults with disabilities in an urban agriculture setting. Their joys: cycling, high summer, and chocolate.
Email: water@auachicago.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alex Franz
Midwest Foods
Selma Sims
President
Gardeneers
Fawn Pochel
Director
Co-Founder of the First Nations Garden
Elena Terry
Director
Wild Bearies
Pat Muench
Board Treasurer
Bailey & Glasser, LLP
Akilah Martin
US Army Corps of Engineers
Rosie Fitz
HEAL Food Alliance